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September 22, 2021 – The Department of Education (DepEd) has recently sealed an agreement   with the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Education Cluster in adopting an open participatory monitoring and evaluation platform to reaffirm its commitment under the Open Government Partnership for the 5^th National Action Plan (NAP) 2019-2022.

“This partnership agreement defines our responsibilities and our commitments to the Open Government Partnership 5th National Action Plan. The delivery of education services is more meaningful and effective and relevant if there is shared responsibility among the various stakeholders,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis shared.

Apart from addressing the needs and gaps in delivering basic education inputs, the mechanism seeks to strengthen the capability of the Department in monitoring and accounting for investments, including assessing if the programs reached rightful recipient public schools, matched the actual needs on the ground, and served the intended learning outcomes, Secretary Briones added.

Considering the current health situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global OGP has extended the implementation of agency commitments under the 5th NAP, allowing updates and recalibration of respective commitments and focus programs.

DepEd responded by adding another focus intervention to the participatory monitoring of the Last Mile Schools Program, the distribution of computer packages to learners and educators in the 44 targeted last mile school beneficiaries.

“Let us also be mindful and be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability, integrity, partnership, consultation, mutual empowerment, respect for internal processes, sustainability, and national interest. This event is a call to action. We shall not falter and we will remain resolute in fulfilling our commitment today and beyond,” Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla shared.

“For this to succeed, we need the whole-of-government and whole-of-society perspective approaches and actions, and this will lead us to policy coherence and to new ways of working that will engage the CSOs, the private sector, and the stakeholder communities and individuals,” USec Sevilla emphasized.

Meanwhile, E-NET Philippines President and CSO Commitment Holders for Education Representative Professor Flora Arellano emphasized that the partnership reflects the collective commitment to reach out to the marginalized, excluded, and vulnerable learners in the last mile schools.

“The MOA signing is a celebration of open governance in the education sector and a milestone in enhancing transparency and accountability in education service delivery,” DBM Undersecretary Rolando Toledo stated.

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